World peace starts with kids. That’s what I learned from the
Dalai Lama when I first heard him speak at the Orpheum in 2006.

It was the simplest, truest thing I had ever heard about how
to change the world. If you want to create less conflict (between people,
between countries), you need to start with the most basic building block of
society: the individual child.

Let me tell you, things have changed since I was in grade
school. Big time.

Did you know that BC is pioneering a new approach in
childhood education that incorporates social and emotional coping techniques
into everyday lessons?

It’s true. And it’s part of a growing trend across Canada
and around the world to give kids access to these techniques at home and at
school.

Some people call this movement ‘social and emotional
learning’ and I believe its potential to effect the way we way we live our
lives is enormous.

I started volunteering for the Dalai Lama Center for Peace
& Education shortly after that 2006 event and I’ve been totally riveted by
social and emotional learning ever since. The purpose of the Center is to help
more kids access to these life skills.

I’ve learned that there is a mountain of research from
impressive places like Harvard, MIT and UBC about the positive effects of
social and emotional learning. There are innovative teachers around the world who
are pilot testing new ways of running their classrooms founded on these
techniques.

Just for a moment, stop and think of the possibility of a
generation of kids graduating high school with advanced skills for dealing with
difficult emotions, handling conflict, and managing life’s challenges.

I want to live in that world.

I’m guessing that a lot of bullied and depressed kids want
to live in that world too.